Decades in America: Study Finds Deep Roots Among Unauthorized Immigrants
Eight in 10 have been in the country at least five years, and nearly half for two decades or more, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
WASHINGTON — A new analysis by the Migration Policy Institute finds that the vast majority of people living in the United States without legal authorization have been in the country for years — often decades.
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According to the MPI’s latest population estimates, 80% of the nation’s 13.7 million unauthorized immigrants have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, and nearly half — about 45% — have been here for two decades or longer.
The findings, based on updated census and administrative data through 2023, underscore how deeply rooted much of the unauthorized population has become in U.S. communities. The typical unauthorized immigrant arrived long before recent policy disputes over border security and asylum, MPI researchers said.
“These figures challenge the perception that most unauthorized immigrants are new arrivals,” said Julia Gelatt, a senior policy analyst at MPI. “In reality, most have built families, careers, and communities here over many years.”
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The institute’s estimates were derived using a refined methodology linking Census Bureau survey data with records from the Department of Homeland Security. The new analysis adjusts for undercounting in federal surveys and captures detailed demographic characteristics by state and county.
MPI’s data tool also shows that unauthorized immigrants are concentrated in a handful of states — including California, Texas, Florida, and New York — and work largely in industries such as construction, hospitality, food service, and health care support.
Researchers say the long-term stability of this population has implications for policymaking on legalization, enforcement, and workforce planning.
“Whether policymakers like it or not, this is a settled population,” said Randy Capps, director of research for U.S. programs at MPI. “Many have been here for most of their adult lives.”
The full dataset and interactive profiles are available through the Migration Policy Institute’s online tool, which details unauthorized immigrant populations by geography, country of origin, employment, and family characteristics.
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rumpski is calling anyone and everyone who is seeking asylum or already here working the fields, paving with hot asphalt, walking on rooftops to replace them, criminals, when rumpski is a convicted rapist, 34-count convicted felon, liar, probably in the Epstein files, and is a shameful disgrace to human kind. rumpski needs to be in an orange jumpsuit in prison for life!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing read 👏🏽